Gas flow alarm switch



June 2,; 1931. L. DE SIMONE ETAL GAS FLOW ALARM SWITCH Filed Sept. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.-

J1me 1931- L. DE SIMONE ET AL 1,303,100

GAS FLOW ALARM SWITCH Filed Sept. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORS. Z uz gz. Dadzmqne 2 0 4, B G za-como 0W6 acono Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE LUIGI DE SIMONE AND GIACOMO CIRIACONO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS FLOW ALARM SWITCH Application filed September 5, 1928. Serial No. 304,008.

This invention relates to gas flow alarm switch of that type adapted to give an audible signal in case the control valve of a gas burner is accidentally opened or in case the gas pressure should be discontinued or unduly lowered for any reason, thereby warning the occupant of the dwelling so that any valves that may be opened may be promptl closed to avoid accidents or death resulting f i'om the ll)- escape of gas into and filling the rooms of the dwelling.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved form of circuit controller for an electrical gas flow alarm of the 1 above kind, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a control of this character which is simple in construction as well as thoroughly efiicient and reliable in operation.

A more particular object is to provide a circuit controller of the above kind embodying an expansible chamber adapted to be interposed in the gas supply line, a pair of spaced contacts movable in a given path by the expansion and contraction of the chamher, and. a manually adjustable contact arranged in the path of movement and between said pair of contacts so as to provide for closing of the alarm circuit when the pressure in the supply line is reduced by opening the burner controlling valve and when the pressure is maintained in the line by closing said valve, the adjustment of the manually adjustable contact permitting opening of the alarm circuit after each operation.

Still another object is to provide a controller of the above kind embodying simple and efiicient means for insuring partial collapse of the expansible chamber when the gas pressure is reduced, and to also provide for proper mounting of the pair of spaced movable contacts.

Still another object is to provide means for causing the pair of spaced contacts to move in a definite path and thereby maintain effective operative relation to the manually adjustable contact.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a flexible partition within the casin structure housing the electric contactsan expansible chamber that is disposed between the contacts and expansible chamber so that any gas leaks from the chamber will be exhausted from the housing at a point remote from the eccentric contacts to eliminate all fire hazards.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention interposed in the gas supply line of a cooking range, the alarm circuit being diagrammatically shown;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the circuit controller shown in Figure 1, with the cover plate of the casing removed;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the expansible chamber partly collapsed as when the burner controlling valve is open;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 4 of the construction as shown in Figure 5, the line of section being indicated at 66 in F i gure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the circuit closing relation of the contacts when the expansible chamber is allowed to collapse beyond a predetermined extent, as when the gas pressure is discon tinued or abnormally reduced in the supply line; and a Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation showing a portion of the front of the controller casing and the operating knob and indicator of the adjustable contact. Referring more in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates'a conventional form of cooking range having a gas supply pipe 6 and provided with a plurality of valves 7 for controlling the flow of gas from the supply pipe 6 to the several burners of the stove. The presentinvention is adapted to be interposed in the supply pipe or line 6 between the source of gas supply and the valves 7 as illustrated in Figure 1 and consists of a suitable casing 8 having a top closure plate 9 and providedwith side openings as at 10 to admit spaced opposed ends of adJacent sections of the supplypipe 6 as'clearly shown in Figures" 1 and 2, an elastic expansible chamber 11 being placed within the lowerportion of the casing 8 and having opposite inlet and outlet nipples Band 18' for connection with the adjacent ends of the respective sec tions of the'supply pipe 6, mentioned above; As shown clearly in: several of the views,

the chamber 1 1 preferably has a somewhat flattened top wall upon which is suitably secured a cup-shaped supporting member 14 inoppositesidesofthe rim or flange of which are 1' ournaled the inturned ends 15 of a baillike guide element 16'whose intermediate portion is horizontally journaled upon the inner face of the rear wall casing 8 to permit the guide element-to swing vertically andthereby cause the support 14 to move in a definite path when raised or lowered by expansion or contraction of the chamber 11. The

front portion of the support 14' is providedwith an interior rigid weight as at 1 8 to yieldingl y resistthe expansion of'the chamber 11 and accordingly cause positive lowering-of thesupport 1'4 whenathe pressure within thechamber 11 isreduced or' discontinued. Mounted upon the front part of the support 14 preferably by securing them on top of the weight 18 as shown, are a pair-of electri'c'ally connected= superposed and vertically spaced contacts 19 and 20 which are in electrical connectionwitha bindingpost 21' ontheback wallof 'thecasings;

A flexible partition 11a separates the cas ing 8 into upperand lower compartments and is interposed between the expansible chamber andweight" 18; the partition beingformed ofsuitable le-ak-proof'material, such 4 asleather, rubberized fabric or the like.

@penings 11?) formed in the side wallof the ca sing 8 at the lower end thereof provide an outlet-for escaping gas from the expansible chamber and to=ren1ove the escaping gas from the immediate vicinity of the contact's'in th uppercompa-rtment of the casing.

'Journaled in the front wall or' the casing 8*is 'ahorizontal shaft 22' whose inner end carries a laterally projecting contact finger 23' disposed between and in the'path of the rcontacts l9 and 20 as shown clearly in Figures '4 and 6', the-other end ofthe shaft 22 being 'equipped with asuitable k nob or handle 24 whereby the shaft -may be conveniently turnedfor vertically swinging adjustment of the contact finger '23;

a :In use; the contact finger 23' is; normally.

set'in'th'e intermediate full line position of Figure 4; softhat' when the valves 7 are closed thex'n'ormal pressure inthe supply shown in Figures 5 and 6. Upon such latter occurrence, the alarm circuit will be closed,

thereby givinga warning that the gas is escaping because of the accidental opening of the valve 7 @bviously, when being warned. of this occurrence, an occupant of: the; dwelling will. promptly investigate: and

close; the valve order to stop the; escape.

of gas in sufiicient time. to avoid. serious accident, the al'armbeing: rendered:- inopera.

tive= at this time by swingingthefinger23 downwardly to the dotted: line position. of

Figure: 6. Aissoon asthevalve isIt-urned'oif the chamber: 11 Willi again expand: and cause: the contact 20 to engage contact finger? 23,.

the latter being? then manually returned to the dotted line position of Figureaito again render the alarm inoperative until aiburner valvescontrol valve7; is'again opened; Should the burner controlled valve": beiintentionally opened, the: circuit closing condition of'. Fig: ure 6 will again be. presented, andthe: sound ing of the alarm can be stopped by swinging the finger 28 to the dotted line position. of

Figure 6; orthe *full. line positionof Figure-7'. VVit-hfthe; gas in use under these: conditions, there isapossibility of the burner becoming extinguisheddue to the gas pressure being temporarily" discontinued for somerezison,

and should: this-takeplace-there: is the danger of gas. escaping: through the 01761161113116]:

controlling valve when the gas flow is again;

continued. Howevereshouldthe gas fiow be' temporarily discontinued; the chamber. 11-

will furthercollapseztothereby bringcontact: 1'9; downwardly still further into engagement with contact finger'23. asz shownin Figure '7",

thereby closing the alarm circuit and giving a Warning so that the burner. controlling valve may be. closed s-ufliciently" soon. after the gas fiow'isdiscontinued, to prevent the serious escapeofgas from subsequent resumption of the gas pressureA To render the alarm inoperati'veaat this time the shaft 22is turned? to swing the. contact'finger'23 clownwardly to the dotted line positionxofFigure? I out of engagement with contact. 19-

spaced relation to contactiQOd, I i

As showmthe shaft 22'isprovidedi with a;

resilient pointerv or'indi'catingf hand 25, disposed in front of the front wall of casing-8 and a'd-apte'd to f'riction'ally engage at its free end with the respective lugs 26 27 and 28" when the finger 23 is' adj 'usted; the pointer 25 engaging lug 26 when the finger 23 is in the raised position of Figure 4, being engaged with the lug 27 when the finger 23 is adjusted to the dotted line position of Fig ure 6 or full line position of Figure 7 and being engaged with the lug 28 when the finger 23 is adjusted to the dotted line position of Figure 7. This frictional engagement of the pointer with the lugs insures maintenance of the finger 23 in the position to which it is adjusted unless the shaft 22 is manually turned. Stop pins 29 are provided on the front wall of the casing in the path of the pointer 25 to prevent the shaft 22 from being turned beyond a limited extent in either direction, thereby limiting the move ment of the contact finger 23 to the proper completely raised or lowered positions.

The contacts 19 and 20 and contact fingers 23 may be included in any desired form of alarm circuit, but as shown, the contacts 19 and 20 are connected by a conductor 30 to one side of a battery 31 whose other side is connected to one terminal of an electric bell 32, the contact finger 23 being connected by a conductor 33 with the other terminal of the bell 32, and a single throw switch 34 being interposed in the conductor 33 to render the alarm circuit inoperative in an emergency.

From the above description it will be seen that the controller provides for the sounding of an alarm both when the pressure is partially reduced by opening of a burner controlling valve and when the pressure is unduly reduced or discontinued. It will also be seen that when the burner controlling valve is closed so as to cause the pressure in the expansible chamber to be raised, a further signal is given to remind the attendant of setting the contact finger 23 from the dotted line position of Figure 6 to the full line position of Figures 4 and 6 for proper operation of the alarm should the burner controlling valve be subsequently opened accidentally.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim 1. In a pressure operated circuit controller for gas flow alarms, a casing, an expansible chamber through which gas flows mounted in the bottom of the casing and having inlet and outlet ports for connection in a gas supply line, a weighted support mounted on the top of the expansible chamber and carrying a pair of vertically spaced contacts electrically connected together, and a manually vertically adjustable contact finger mounted in the casing in the path of and between said pair of contacts.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, including an operating shaft journaled in the front wall of the casing and .contact finger fixed upon the inner end thereof, and means for limiting the turning movement of the shaft for establishing the upper and lower limits of adjustment of the contact finger.

3. A device as specified in claim 1, wherein said support is in the nature of a pan-shaped member weighted near the front, a vertically swinging bail-connection between the support and the back of the casing to cause ver tical movement of the support and the pair of contacts in a definite path, in response to expansion and contraction of the expansible chamber.

4. In a circuit controller of the character described, a manually adjustable contact element, an expansible chamber for the flow of gas therethrough interposed in a gas supply line, a pair of spaced contacts carried by the expansible member and movable by expansion and contraction of the latter in a definite path, said contact element being arranged between and in the path of movement of said pair of contacts, and including a j ournaled shaft with the contact element extending at right angles therefrom and said shaft being rotatable to move said contact element in the direction of the path of movement of the pair of contacts to provide for circuit closing operations upon partial and total collapse of said expansible chamber and upon complete expansion of said chamber from partially collapsed condition.

5. In a circuit controller of the character described, a manually adjustable contact ele ment, an expansible chamber for the flow of gas therethrough interposed in a gas supply line, a pair of spaced contacts carried by the expansible member and movable by expansion and contraction of the latter in a definite path, said contact element being arranged between and in the path of movement of said pair of contacts, and including a. journaled shaft with the contact element extending at right angles therefrom and said shaft being rotatable to move said contact element in the direction of the path of movement of the pair of contacts to provide for circuit closing operation upon partial and total collapse of said expansible chamber and upon complete expansion of said chamber from partially collapsed condition, a casing enclosing the contacts and expansible chamber and a flexible leak proof partition in the casing separating the expansible chamber from the contacts.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

LUIGI DE SIMONE. GIACOMO OIRIAOONO. 

